AEROSPACE NEWS

Lightweight construction with thermoplastsAt the forthcoming K 2013 trade show in D?sseldorf, Germany, this October, technology leader KraussMaffei will be demonstrating the production of lightweight thermoplasic composites on its CX series dual platen machine employing its FiberForm and MuCell processes.

New BASF Ultramid plant in ShanghaiBASF is building a new Ultramid polymerization plant with a capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year in Shanghai, China, with a view to start up in 2015.

Polyester alternative to glassCHM Composites, based in Shropshire, UK, is promoting its polyester-based nonwoven veils as a cost-effective alternative to standard glass products for composite applications such as pipes and tanks.

Graphene-reinforced epoxy resinsNetComposites is leading a new collaborative R&D project aimed at developing a synthesis platform to deliver industrial quantities of graphene-filled epoxy resins for advanced composite applications.

Development package at BASFBASF is bringing tgether its composites products and services under a new package to be called Ultracom.The basic idea is to provide an integrated development platform that starts at the concept phase, continues through design, simulation, processing and part testing, and ends in efficient volume production at the customer.

SGL partners with SamsungGermany?s SGL Group is setting up a 50/50 marketing and sales joint venture with Samsung for carbon fibre composite materials.The primary aim is to develop new industrial and electronic applications with carbon composite materials for Samsung and the Korean market.

OC to build new US glass nonwovens plantOwens Corning is to invest $130 million in a new plant for glass fibre nonwovens in North America.The plan by the global producer of glass fibre reinforcements for composites and residential and commercial building materials is to establish a new campus with a state-of-the-art manufacturing line, coating technology and research and development activities, and the option for future expansion.

New glass technology for thermoplasticsJohns Manville has developed a new engineered reactive glass fibre for improved performance in structural thermoplastic composites at its plant in Trnava, Slovakia.

Accelerating the use of French flaxThe ambitious ?18 million Fiabilin project is establishing an indistrialisation process for bio-sourced thermoplastic composites in order to further the establishment of a dedicated flax value chain in France.

Matching metal is the goalThe tenth ?project house? just opened by speciality chemicals company Evonik in Marl, Germany, will develop new materials and system solutions based on composites for the lightweight construction sector.

Tension the key to nanotube compositesFor the next generation of commercial jets, US researchers have been exploring the use of composites employing carbon fibres coated with carbon nanotubes, as the basis for even stronger and lighter parts.

New possibilties with impregnated fabricFrench engineered textile specialist Chomarat is expanding its range of coated fabrics for composites with a new reinforcement impregnated with a flexible thermoplastic.

Recycling Division at FormaxFormax, the manufacturer of speciality composite reinforcements, has launched a new recycling initiative at its UK production facility in Leicester.With the creation of a dedicated Recycling Division and the installation of two bespoke machines, the company is now able to reprocess the majority of its glass and carbon fibre waste.

Expanded horizons for RocToolAfter ten years of intensive R&D and nearly $20 million of investment, RocTool has started selling its moulding processes under license and has tripled its turnover in the space of two years, from $2 million in 2010 to more than $6 million in 2012.

EC seeks entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEsA long term strategic plan by the European Commission (EC) to rebuild the European economy by investing in the development of new technologies has now reached the stage where it will start to have an impact as it reaches the commercialisation phase.

Composites One backs TeXtremeComposites One, the leading distributor of composites materials in North America, is to distribute TeXtreme spread tow reinforcements across the Americas.

Toray licenses honeycomb processFollowing preliminary process and product development work, Toray is to licence ThermHex technology ? a cost efficient continuous process for the production of lightweight polypropylene panels developed by EconCore, based in Leuven, Belgium.

Composite spray for US militaryA spray-on composite mixture of carbon nanotubes and ceramic has been developed in the US with an unprecedented ability to resist damage while absorbing laser light.

Recognition for carbon-negative resinThe conversion of biogas into Airflex high-performance bio-based thermoplastics by Newlight Technologies was recognised as a key new development at the recent 6th International Conference on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Plastics and Composites held in Stuttgart, Germany.

Low melt NSK for prepregsFibre and filament producer Trevira is intensifying its activities in the field of technical textiles and at this year?s Techtextil show in Frankfurt from June 11-13 will be showcasing a wide range of new products including low melt NSK filaments.

New prepreg line at PRFIn prepreg manufacturing over the last 25 years the focus has been on development in resin systems, but very few advances have been made in the development of the reinforcements for composites.

Flax and hemp at the JECThe eco-design and mechanical-performance advantages of flax and hemp will be heavily highlighted at this week?s 2013 JEC Europe trade show in Paris (March 12-14).

100% bio-derivedNetComposites will present its latest biocomposite developments at next week?s JEC Composites show in Paris.The materials are a viable sustainable alternative for many mainstream composite applications, the UK company says, since natural fibre reinforcements, such as flax, have the potential to provide improved specific stiffness and hence reduced weight.

Easy processing with TPregThe new TPreg range of continuous reinforcements for the production of thermoplastic composites is being launched at the forthcoming JEC Composites show in Paris (March 12-14) by Chomarat of France.

LCA proves recycling benefitsLeading a project team with EuCIA and industry partners, DSM has proven that the carbon footprint of cement clinker manufacturing can be reduced up to 16% through using glass reinforced composites regrind as process input.

Easy route to recyclingThe recycling of glass fibre composites through co-processing in cement kilns is the subject of a new document entitled Composites Recycling Made Easy produced by the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA).

Silica for super-compositesResearch into developing the strongest silica nanofibres in the world is being pioneered at the University of Southampton?s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) in the UK, with plans for their use in new composites.

Balsa expansion for 3AWith its latest land purchase in Ecuador, 3A Composites has increased its balsa plantation base by 20% and now owns almost 10,000 hectares in the country.

Prototype for the slopesAt the AMRC Composite Centre in Rotherham, UK, a prototype snowboard has been from flax, cashew nut husks and recycled plastic.The AMRC Composite Centre started working with biocomposites as part of E-light, a collaborative European project to investigate new lightweight materials for electric vehicles.

Combining composites and steelThyssenKrupp AG reports that promising applications are opening up for carbon fibre-reinforced composites in combination with new steel solutions.To develop new applications for these technologies, reduce manufacturing costs and help lightweight materials achieve a breakthrough, ThyssenKrupp AG has just opened its new TechCenter Carbon Composites in Dresden, Germany.

Spotting the micro-cracksAdvanced ceramic composites can withstand the ultra-high operational temperatures projected for hypersonic jet and next generation gas turbine engines, but real-time analysis of the mechanical properties of these materials at such temperatures has been a challenge.

Renewable succinic acid start upReverdia, the joint venture between life and materials sciences company DSM and Roquette Fr?res, a global producer of starch and starch-derivatives, has begun operations in Cassano Spinola, Italy, at a commercial-scale plant producing Biosuccinium sustainable succinic acid.

Piloting the one-minute processTeijin has started up a pilot plant for the fully integrated production of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites at its Matsuyama plant in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

Mushrooming interest in myceliumBiocomposites made from nonwovens in combination with a new bonding technology based on mycelium are the focus of just one of the many research projects currently underway at New York-based Ecovative, in collaboration with a range of partners.

Composites for clean waterHeat-conducting polymer composites could soon replace titanium in the pipelines of desalination plants which convert seawater into drinking water.::r

Multiaxials for lower weight performanceParis-headquartered Chomarat is investing in a new Liba Max 4 100-inch multiaxial machine to expand its carbon and glass/carbon range, having presented the first parts produced with its C-Ply Bi-Angle material at the recent Composites Europe.

Cellulose breakthrough from WeyerhauserThermoplastic composites employing sustainably sourced cellulose fibres as their reinforcement additive are being launched by Weyerhaeuser.Called Thrive composites, it is envisaged theproprietary, patent-pending materials will initially be used in household goods and automotive parts, since they offer several advantages over materials reinforced with short glass fibres or natural fibres such as sisal, hemp and kenaf.

Turning CO2 to new advantageCO2 as a feedstock for chemistry and polymers, with potential applications in future composites, is the subject of a special conference taking place in Essen, Germany from October 10-11th this year.

Cellulose-reinforced polymersVestamid Terra is a new range of Evonik Industries reinforced fibre polymers for composites and plastics with bio-contents of between 67-100%.Reinforcing fibres, particularly chopped fiberglass, improve the mechanical properties of composites and plastics but the use of natural fibres has so far resulted in significant deterioration of reinforcing potential, and also an unpleasant odour in the end product.

Performance booster for PCBsSABIC Innovative Plastics has responded to the call for both enhanced sustainability and cost control in the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs) with the launch of its Noryl SA90 and SA9000 additives for epoxy and non-epoxy thermoset systems.

Gold for Kelly and UmecoKelly Cartwright ? who won Australia?s first gold medal for the high jump in the Paralympic Games on Sunday in London ? uses prosthetic blades supplied by official sponsor Ottobock HealthCare.

Sustainable growth for carbonBoom and bust cycles have characterised the rise of carbon fibre and with its lightweighting benefits now poised to transfer from aerospace composites to the mass market automotive and wind energy sectors, growth of an annual 17% is anticipated in the next five years.

Sturdy enough for 54 cowsThe world?s first rotary platform for the milking industry made from composites and designed to have a lifespan 25% longer than conventional concrete platforms is being supplied by Waikato Milking Systems, headquartered in Hamilton, New Zealand.

3D printed carbon goalThe development of carbon fibre feedstocks to allow new composites to be made by additive manufacturing is the aim of a new joint initiative between 3D printer maker Stratasys and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)In addition, the partners aim to develop in-process inspection to assure the quality and suitability for service of carbon composite parts in pursuit of both lighter parts and reducing energy.

New composites with 3D printingAs the price of the technology falls, additive manufacturing, or 3D printing ? the process of building up objects in layers ? is rapidly promising to move beyond being restricted to expensive prototyping and take composites ? and indeed, the manufacturing of many other solid materials ? to the next level.

Crossply advantages for carbonNetherlands-based Van Wees, a leader in UD and crossply technology, has developed a carbon/polyamide crossply with outstanding mechanical behaviour and excellent thermo-formability.

Quieter composites with corkComposite sandwich structures ? typically made from synthetic foam cores or honeycomb materials bonded to carbon-epoxy face sheets ? are commonly used in aerospace applications because they offer high bending stiffness and are very lightweight.

Materials savings for DelastekDelastek, based in Grand-M?re, Quebec, Canada, reports a 5% reduction in composites materials cost since installing a Virtek LaserEdge laser templating system and Gerbercutter DCS2500 cutting system.